Meet the traditional Himba tribe of Namibia

The Himba are a proudly traditional people who live in the coastal Kaokoveld Desert of northern Namibia and southern Angola

Apart from the Herero, the Himba are probably Namibia’s most well-known ethnic group, not least because of the women’s distinctive dress and hair traditions.

Travellers to Namibia are often keen to visit the Himba. Some Himba communities have embraced village visits as a way to earn some income. Check out these Namibian overlanding itineraries from African Overland Tours if you’re keen to meet the Himba tribe.

An introduction to the Himba tribe of Namibia

The Himba are a semi-nomadic tribe who live a subsistence lifestyle centred on raising livestock like sheep and goats. It is cattle, however, that equals wealth in Himba society. Some of the richer families own as many as 500 head of cattle.

Himba settlements usually consist of a few, spread-out huts made with sticks and mud. These are round and have thatched roofs. When the land is no longer providing for the livestock, the Himba move.

There are around 50,000 Himba people today. They’re a monotheistic people who worship Mukuru (‘Supreme Creator) but also venerate their clan ancestors.

The Himba speak OtjiHimba, which is a variety of the Bantu language Herero. The Himba are, however, culturally distinct from the Herero people of today.

The most obvious difference to the outside world between the Herero and the Himba is that Herero women dress in long, conservative dresses and don large disc-like hats, while Himba women go topless and cover their hair plaits with an ochre-coloured mixture.

Let’s discuss that topic in a little more detail …

The fashions of the Himba tribe

The Himba live in a hot and arid landscape, which is reflected in their clothing choices. Neither sex traditionally wears a top. The Himba women find it strange that other women cover their breasts. In cold weather, individuals will usually tie a blanket around their shoulders.

Both males and females cover their skin in otjitze, a smooth mixture of ochre-coloured clay and butterfat. This paste serves a double purpose: it protects them from the sun while also cleansing and deodorising the skin. This is important as there isn’t water in the desert for bathing. The paste is antibacterial, moisturising, and also exfoliating in the sense that when it dries and flakes off, it takes dirt and dead skin cells with it.

The most traditional Himba men wear calfskin skirts, necklaces, and sometimes sandals. Some of the men wear fabric skirts or shorts instead, or tie a sarong around the waist, and some wear modern T-shirts. Married men traditionally wear turbans, while unmarried men wear a single braid on the top of the head but shave the sides.

Himba ladies use the aforementioned otjitze paste not just on their skin but also to coat the top portions of their plaits. The plait ends are usually thick and flare out from their tight otjize encasings, creating a very striking effect, especially when seen from behind.

The women also wear lots of jewellery made from wire and beads. They tend to wear multiple necklaces and bracelets, and tall, snug ankle bracelets.

When a woman has given birth, she starts wearing a ‘backpack’ made from animal skin for carrying the baby so that she can continue with her tasks.

The roles of men and women in Himba society

The Himba are a polygamous society, and most men have at least two wives. Boys are usually circumcised before puberty as a rite of passage.

Himba marriages are arranged by the parents. Even though it’s illegal in Namibia, and isn’t practised by all Himba, children are sometimes married long before puberty. The boy’s parents must pay bridewealth to the girl’s parents in the form of cattle.

Many Himba children aren’t actually descended from their mother’s husband. A key reason for this is that Himba husbands can offer their wives to guests.

While the Himba lead highly traditional lives, they’re not closed off to outside cultures (as evidenced by the fact that they welcome visitors!). Moreover, some Himba children attend Western-style schools and some communities near urban centres will make purchases at grocery stores. Like all traditional societies, there are variations from community to community and family to family in terms of their adherence to traditional values and norms.

Note: This blog post was originally written and published by Bronwyn Paxton on 15 August 2013. It was rewritten by Megan Abigail White on 6 February 2026.